How’s that
Motorists lack even basic maintenance skills
There are questions about whether ‘Show Me, Tell Me’ is effective after another set of research results revealed that motorists lack confidence in undertaking even the most basic levels of car maintenance.
Checking tyre pressures or replacing a windscreen blade are even problematic.
The new research from The Green Insurer comes amid concerns that motorists are failing to keep their vehicles in good condition, especially their tyres.
The great unknown
Its study found that one in five (19%) motorists had no idea how to change a tyre and a further 29% said they were “not very confident” about doing so.
Other basic car maintenance tasks that motorists admitted to having no idea about or feeling unconfident about include replacing a windscreen wiper blade (37%), checking the oil level (16%), checking tyre pressure (15%), and replenishing screen wash (10%).
In the event of a warning light or symbol showing up on their car dashboard, a third (36%) of motorists say that the first step they would take is to refer to the car manual or phone the manufacturer.
This is followed by 22% of owners who say they will first search for help on the Internet and 20% whose first action is to call on help from a friend or family member.
Four per cent of respondents admit to either ignoring any warning lights unless they were affecting their car’s performance or waiting until their next service was due.
This figure rises to 10% in the younger 18 – 24 year old age group.
Professional help
For many, the local garage is the first port of call.
One in six drivers (18%) say they would book their car into the garage.
The reliance on professional mechanics for even simple maintenance is expensive and adds unnecessarily to the unaffordable costs of owning and running a vehicle.
A quarter (24%) of all motorists say that their limited knowledge in basic car maintenance has caught them out.
They later realised it could have been relatively easily fixed by themselves or someone else at home.
Environment, health and cash
“Our findings reveal that many motorists have a significant gap in practical knowledge, such as checking their oil level or tyre pressures, which could leave them unprepared in emergency situations,” states Paul Baxter, CEO, The Green Insurer.
“The survey also found some regret amongst car owners who had relied on mechanics to perform a simple maintenance task that could have been resolved by themselves but instead will have resulted in needless additional expense.
“It is reassuring to see that very few of our respondents say they ignore any dashboard warning lights as a failure to address small maintenance issues, such as driving with insufficient oil can lead to significant damage to a car’s engine. Other maintenance tasks such as checking tyre pressure are also important as low pressure can affect braking and reduce fuel efficiency.”
Running flat
Recent research by the RAC and TyreSafe found tyre maintenance habits are inconsistent at best.
Just a third (33%) of drivers check their tyre tread at least once a month, as recommended, while 26% admit they only do so when they remember or before an MOT.
Even more alarming, 5% said they never check their tyres and wait for their vehicle to fail its annual roadworthiness test before taking action.
Infrequent checks lead to unnecessary risks, as tyre-related breakdowns are one of the top reasons for RAC callouts.
In 2024 alone, the RAC responded to approximately 340,000 tyre-related breakdowns, highlighting the scale of the issue.